Electrically-controlled switch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

E. M. HEWLETT.

ELBGTRIGALLY GONTROLLED SWITCH.

Smm

Patented May 10,1898.

.NAMEN L unms PETERS co.. Pwoaumn.. wAsHmaToN. nv c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. M. HEWLETT.

ELEGTRIGALLY GONTROLLED SWTGH.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD M. HEWLETT, OF SOHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED SWl'i'Ci-l.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,786, dated May 10, 1898. vApplication tiled January 23, 1897. Serial No. 620,311. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it 11m/y concern: As the core is drawn inward the larger por- Be it known that I, EDWARD M. HEWLETT, tion reaches a point where the lines of force a citizen of the United States, residing at may pass directly from it to the hollow core, Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, thus increasing the area of the magnetic cir- 55 State of New York, have invented certain new cuit and slightly increasing the pull. By exand useful Improvements in Elcctrically-Oouperiment I have found that it is possible to trolled Switches, (Oase No. 422,) of which the so construct the core and to limit its inward following is a specilication. movement that a strong pull is obtained at The present invention relates to electricthe start, which is not greatly increased as the 6o io ally-controlled switches which are employed core moves into the energizing-coil.

for establishing` or interrupting the circuit The invention further relates to details of connections of a system of distribution or construction hereinafter more fully described electrical apparatus located at a distance and claimed. from the point of control. In the accompanying drawings attached to 65 The present apparatus has been designed and made part of this specification I have more particularly forv use with a system of shown an embodiment of my invention, in underground feeders where it is desirable at whichcertain times to establish or interrupt the cir- Figure l is a plan view of the switch and cuit of some or all of the branch feeders looperating mechanism; Fig. 2, a sectional view 7o zo cated at a distance from the main source of on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; 3, a diagram of supply; but the invention is not limited to the circuit connections, and Fig. 4 a modifithis, for it can readily be applied to any syscation. tem requiring a switch electrically controlled The insulating-base A, to which the parts from a distance. of the switch are secured, is preferably mount- 75 The present invention has for one of its obed in a horizontal position within a suitable jects to dispense with the motor and gearing inclosing case,which protects it from dirt and usually employed for this purpose and to submoisture. The leading-in or main-circuit stitute therefor a simple means of operating wires a and l) are provided with terminals and the switch positively in both directions, at the secured to the bases of contacts O and D. a' 8o 3o same time insuring a quick break at the time and b indicate the outgoing or branch feedt-he circuit is interrupted. wires, and are provided with suitable termi- The invention further has for its object to nals, secured to the base of the contacts O' arrange the circuits of the magnet-coils in and D. Mounted ou the insulating-support such a manner that they may be included in F are two laminated copper connectors E2. 85 circuit with the source of supply by a switch These are adapted to close the circuit belocated at the power-house and an extra wire tween the contacts O O and D D The supextending from the source of supply to the port F is also provided with rods E, in elecfeeder-switch, the wire and magnets being trical connection `with the contacts E2, which out of circuit, except when employed in opcarry at their upper ends bifurcated connec- 9o 4o erating the switch. tors E. The movingand stationary contacts, The invention furthermore has for its obeach of which, when in the position shown, ject to provide an improved magnet capable completes a shunt-circuit around the correof working over a long range with a substansponding main-switch terminals through a tially equal pull throughout. blow-out magnet H3 and stationary contacts, 95 The magnet comprises a movable core hav- (not lettered,) bear such a relation to each ing two parts differing in their cross-section. other that the circuit is first interrupted at In the energizing-coil is placed a hollow core, E2 and then at E'. As soon as the circuit at within which the smaller portion of the core E2 is interrupted the coil H3 of the blow-out is located at all times. This insures a good magnet becomes energized, which blows ont 10o 5o magnetic circuit, but one of limited area and any arc formed at the contact E. The blowone in which the lines of force are crowded. out magnet consists of two plates Il H2, be-

2 coarse tween which is located the coil ligand an arcrestraining chute. These are secured tegether and to the insulating-base A by bolts H. On the lower portion of the base A is a casting F4, to which are secured switch-operating magnets B B. These magnets are provided with an outer iron vcasin g I,which forms a part of the magnetic circuit, and have a common core B3, to which are connected the toggle -levers F2 and F3. These levers are connected at their upper end to the casting F', which is secured to the insulating-piece F, and at the bottom are pivoted to the easting F1. Mounted in the lugs G G2, which are secured to the base A, is a rod G,which forms a guide for the insulating-piece F when moved up and down by means of the toggle. Secured to the pin JQ which also forms a pivot for the arms F2, is a spring J ,which is secured at its lower end to a boss on the casting F4. This spring assists the magnets to move the levers F2 F3 to either side of a dead-center position. Secured to the end of the magnetcasing I'i by means of screws is a plate M, which terms a part of the magnetic circuit. The magnets are provided with hollow cores I, secured to the base by screw-threads and extending part way between the base and the plate M. The energizingcoil I5 is wound and insulated upon a suitable spool, which is slipped into place before the plate M is mounted. In one end of the core I is mounted a buffer or stop comprising a metal disk carried by a pin and having a washer I, of rubber or leather, to lessen the hammer-blow when the head of the core I strikes. The core B3 is provided with portions I I2, which differ in their cross-section, that of I2 being approximately twice as great as that of I. To limit the inward movement of the core, a shoulder I3 is formed on the core and is adapted to strike against the hub of the plate M. To adjust the inward movement of the core, a piece N is provided,which may or may not be of magnetic material. By proportioning the thickness of this piece the movement of the core B3 may be limited as desired.

lVhen the coil I5 is energized and the core B3 is in the extreme left-hand position, the magnetic flux passes from the plate M through a small portion of the larger core I2, thence to the smaller core I', the hollow core I, the surrounding ease I4, and back to the plate M. lVith the core in this position the lines offeree threading through the core I are crowded; but the magnetic circuit being a goed one a strong pull en the core is obtained. As the moving core is drawn into the hollow cere I the pull increases up to a certain point, after which it falls off slightly until the core I2 arrives at the position where the lines of force may pass directly therefrom to the core I. By this construction I provide a magnet having a strong pull at the start and one in which the pull is not materially increased as the core is drawn in. Mounted on the insulatingpiece F is a spring-contact arm K, making contact with the contact Ii when in the position shown and with the contact IY2 when the circuit between the mains a a and l) l2 is interrupted and the core Bi moved to the extreme left.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the operation of my feeder-switch will be explained.

The generator S is located at any convenient place, and extending therefrom are maincircuit wires a l), adapted to su ppl y the branch feeders a b with current. A third wire c runs from the switch O at the station and is normally disconnected from the source of supply. The magnet-coil I5 is connected at one end to the main Z) and at the other end to the contact K2. The magnet-coil P is connected at one end to the main a and at the other end to the contact Ii. As shown, the core B3 is in the extreme right-hand position and the toggle has forced the insulating-piece F and contacts E2 into a position where the circuit is closed between contacts C C audD 1)/ and the spring-contact I is in engagement with stationary contact IC. Il' it is desired to open the circuit of the branch feeders a' h, the switch O is moved into engagement with the negative terminal and the circuit is as follows: from the positive side of the generator S by wire c to the coil I), stationary contact II', moving contact Ii, to thc wire c, switch O, and the negative side of the generator. This will energize the coil P and move the core B3 tothe left. The circuit is interrupted with a quick break.

If the circuit to the branch feeders is open and is to be closed, the switch O is moved to the positive contact and the circuit is from the positive side of the generator S to the switch O, wire c, contact K, fixed contact K2, coil I5 of the magnet, to the wire l), and the negative side of the generator. This will energize the coil I5 and will close the circuit between C Cl and I) D. As soon as the pivot L moves to the right of the center the spring .I will hold the core in the right-hand position and the circuit of the coil I5 may be opened at the switch O. It will be seen that as soon as the core B3 is moved either to the right or left the contact Ii establishes a new connection suitable for again opening or closing the switch, as the case may be.

In Fig. et I have shown a modification in which the contact K is mounted on the pivot Il', the latter also forming a pivot Afor the lever F3. The stationary contacts l K2 are mounted on extensions from the casting F'1 and are provided with suitable insulation. Mounted on the back of the arm Q, is a lug (y, (shown in dotted lines,) with which the screws It R on the lever Fs are adapted to engage when the core B3 is moved from one position to the other. Mounted in the bottom of the arm Q is a spring-plunger Q2, provided with a roller which works on the fixed cam-surface Q3. The screws It It are so arranged that the core IES can move a certain distance before they will engage with the lug Q.

This is to insure IOC IOS

IIO

the circuit between the contacts K and K or K and K2 being maintained until the core has moved to nearly the end of its stroke in either' direction, and the spring-plunger Q2 engaging with the surfaces of the cam Q3 insures the establishing' of the circuit between the moving contact K and the stationary contacts K K2 preparatory for further operation. By this arrangement the circuit between the moving and stationary contacts can be maintained as long as desired, and by varying the adjustment of the screws R R' it may be varied to suit different conditions.

Itis within the scope of my invention to provide a plurality of switches and branch mains and to control the operation of the switches either separately or simultaneously.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. ln a system of distribution, the combination of supply and branch mains, a single auxiliary main extending from the point of control, as for example, a supply or sub station, to a switch for opening and closing the circuit between the supply and branch mains, an electromagnetically controlled switch, comprising a pair of electrolnagnets, each having a coil permanently connected to a supply-main atone end, and alternately connected to the auxiliary main by an automatic switch.

In a system of distribution, the combination of positive and negative circuit-mains, branch mains leading therefrom, a single auxiliary main,an electromagnetieally-controlled switch for making and breaking the circuit of the branch mains, comprising a pair of magnets each having coilspermanently connected to separated mains at one end, and so arranged that one coil is always open-circuited, an automatic switch for alternately connecting the coils to the auxiliary wire, and a manually-actuated switchfor including the auxiliary main in circuit with either the positive or negative supply-main.

3. The combination of supply mains, branch mains adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the supply-mains, two solenoid-magnets acting upon a core common to both, a toggle connected to the core, contacts actuated by the toggle for making and breaking the circuit between the su pply and branch mains, and a switch in the circuit ol the solenoids controlled by the toggle.

4t. In a switch, the combination of fixed contacts, solenoid-magnets, a toggle acted upon by the magnet-core, contacts actuated by the toggle, and a spring acting on both sides of a dead-center and connected with the toggle.

5. In a switch, the combination of iixed contacts, solenoid-magnets, cores for the magnets, contacts actuated by the cores, a single auxiliary contact also actuated by the cores for controlling the circuit of both solenoidcoils, and means whereby a certain interval of time is allowed to elapse between the operation of the main and auxiliary contacts.

6. In a switch, the combination of stationary contacts, a plurality of moving contacts, solenoid-magnets, a core common to the magnets for actuating the toggle, a guide for the toggle, a spring acting on both sides ol a deadcenter to assist the core, an auxiliary contact also operated by the core, means permitting a certain amount of movement of the core independent of the auxiliary contact, and means for supplying current to the solenoid-coils for operating the switch.

7. In a switch, the combination of a solenoid, an iron casing surrounding it, a hollow core secured to one end of the casing, a plate secured to the opposite end of the casing, a core provided with parts differing in their cross-section, a shoulder on the core adapted to engage with the plate on the end of the casing, and a buffer -for lessening the effect of the hammer-blow at the end of the movement of the core.

S. In a switch, the combination of a solenoid-magnet, a core, a toggle actuated thereby, an energizing-coil on the magnet, a contact connected with the coil, an arm actuated by the core, a contact carried by the arm, a cam for insuring a quick break between the moving and stationary contacts, and means permitting a predetermined amount of movement of the core independent of the arm.

0. In asolenoid-magnet, the combination of an inclosing casing and energizing-coil, a cylindrical straight-bored core, aremovable cap havinga central opening, the metal surrounding the opening having an increased cross-scction to provide a good magnetic circuit, a cylindrical movable core comprising two parts differing in their cross-section, and a piece of non-magnetic material arranged to guide the movable core within the stationary hollow core and prevent them from sticking.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of January, 1897.

EDWARD M. HEWLETT. lNitnesses:

B. B. HULL, M. H. EMERSON.

IOO

IOS 

